Costa Rica regrets that the President of Sudan, Omar al Bashir, has once again eluded international justice.

Costa Rica deeply regrets that Uganda has failed to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir , during his recent visit to Kampala, where he participated in the swearing-in ceremony of President Yoweri Musevini, who took office for a fifth consecutive term.

This was Bashir´s first visit to Uganda since the International Criminal Court issued two arrest warrants against the Sudanese President in 2009.

Costa Rica expresses its concern over the fact that Uganda, State Party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and member of the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties, overlooked its international obligation to execute the arrest warrants against Bashir.

The ICC has issued two standing arrest warrants against Omar Al Bashir for his alleged participation in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed under his order by the Sudanese army and its affiliated militia Janjaweed in the western city of Darfur.

Minister González recalled that the Security Council referred the case of Sudan to the International Criminal Court under chapter VII of the UN Charter. “Under this mandate, every State Party to the Court has the obligation to arrest and hand over individuals with arrest warrants, without exception.” – affirmed the Minister.

Sudan has refused to process Al Bashir in its Courts as well as to arrest and surrender him to International Justice. Bashir has challenged the court in the past through his official visits to China, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Djibouti, The Central African Republic, South Africa and Nigeria.

Costa Rica, reiterates its calling for State Parties to the Rome Statute to cooperate with the Court and execute pending arrest warrants without delay, regardless of the official capacity of the individual.

Costa Rica has been a State Party to the Rome Statute since June 2001 and is a Member of the Bureau of the Assembly of States parties where it represents Latin America and the Caribbean. Minister González is a member of the Ministerial Network in Support of the ICC, an initiative of Her Excellency Aurelia Frick, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein.